AIA selects Mortimer Marshall for the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board of Directors has selected Mortimer Marshall, Jr., FAIA as recipient of the 2012 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award for exemplifying the profession’s responsibility toward current social issues.

He has sponsored scholarships for minority students, encouraging them to pursue architecture and building careers through the ACE Mentor Program and have provided financial support, contributed materials, and encouraged his own staff at The Marshall Group to become mentors in the Architecture in Schools program by the Washington Architectural Foundation.

Marshall was also recognized for his efforts to help small firms compete for work with public clients. “He worked with the GSA to include small businesses, women and minorities in their public buildings service program as early as the seventies,” wrote former AIA president Marshall Purnell, FAIA, in his recommendation letter. “He promoted joint ventures as a way for smaller practices to gain needed experience.”

The award honors civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., who challenged architects to more actively increase participation in the profession by minorities and women.